Who is at low risk for cardiovascular disease?: an assessment of different definitions

Purpose: to assess the prevalence and trends of low cardiovascular risk factor (RF) profile in the Swiss population according to different definitions. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study of 6170 subjects (3241 women) aged 35-75 years living in Lausanne, Switzerland. Trends were assessed using data from the Swiss MONICA population surveys conducted in 1984-6 (N = 3300), 1988-9 (N = 3331) and 1992-3 (N = 3133) and restricted to the same age group. Seven different definitions of low RF profile were used. Results: prevalence of low RF profile varied between 6.5% (95% confidence interval: 5.9-7.1) and 9.7% (9.0-10.5) depending on the definition used (see fig. 1). The prevalence was inversely related to the number of criteria used and higher than in other countries. Irrespective of the definition used, the prevalence of low RF profile was higher in women and in physically active participants, and decreased with increasing age or in the presence of a family history of cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of low RF profile increased from 3.8% (3.1- 4.5) in 1984-6 to 6.7% (6.1-7.3) in 2003-6; using another definition, the results were 5.9% (5.1-6.8) and 9.7% (9.0-10.5), respectively (see fig. 2). Conclusion: the prevalence of low RF profile varies according to the criteria used; this prevalence is relatively high and increasing in the Swiss population, which might partly explain the low and decreasing trend in cardiovascular mortality rates.

Transferts inter-hospitaliers de patients entre cantons suisses

ECTIFS: Analyser les mouvements de patients entre cantons et selon les pathologies principales. Présentation du contexte, des enjeux et de l'interprétation des données. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Analyse, faite à partir de la base de données de la Statistique Hospitalière Suisse, de tous les transferts survenus entre 1998 et 2008 selon les variables suivantes : le sexe, l'âge, le canton d'hospitalisation, le canton de domicile du sujet et la pathologie. RÉSULTATS: Les transferts inter-cantonaux représentaient entre 2.7% (Genève) et 81.6% (Appenzell Rhodes intérieur) de la totalité des transferts entre hôpitaux. La majorité des transferts concerne les pathologies suivantes : cardiovasculaire (20.1%), ostéo-articulaire (9.3%), troubles mentaux (6.5%), oncologique (4.6%) et troubles respiratoires (2.6%). Les facteurs influençant la santé (28.7%) et les causes externes (12%) n'ont pas été inclus dans l'analyse. Le flux des transferts est orienté selon les tendances suivantes : attraction des cantons possédant un hôpital universitaire, l'accessibilité géographique (distances/obstacles), diversité des mouvements selon les pathologies et l'influence linguistique. L'attractivité des cantons est associée au nombre d'hôpitaux (r=0.82, p<0.001) ou de lits (r=0.85, p<0.001) qu'ils possèdent ainsi qu'à leur densité de lits (r=0.51, p<0.01), mais pas à leur densité hospitalière (r=0.08, p<0.7). CONCLUSION: Les cantons universitaires jouent leur rôle de pôle de compétences. Ce phénomène confirme que les transferts se font selon une logique de rationalisation des moyens techniques. Les mouvements de patients sont plus importants dans les cantons alémaniques. On constate une tendance moins forte parmi les cantons latins à " exporter " des patients. Les accords inter-cantonaux de transferts jouent un rôle dans le flux des patients en Suisse. [Auteur]

Markers of atherosclerosis and of inflammation for prediction of coronary heart disease in older adults

BACKGROUND: Several markers of atherosclerosis and of inflammation have been shown to predict coronary heart disease (CHD) individually. However, the utility of markers of atherosclerosis and of inflammation on prediction of CHD over traditional risk factors has not been well established, especially in the elderly. METHODS: We studied 2202 men and women, aged 70-79, without baseline cardiovascular disease over 6-year follow-up to assess the risk of incident CHD associated with baseline noninvasive measures of atherosclerosis (ankle-arm index [AAI], aortic pulse wave velocity [aPWV]) and inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 [IL-6], C-reactive protein [CRP], tumor necrosis factor-a [TNF-a]). CHD events were studied as either nonfatal myocardial infarction or coronary death ("hard" events), and "hard" events plus hospitalization for angina, or the need for coronary-revascularization procedures (total CHD events). RESULTS: During the 6-year follow-up, 283 participants had CHD events (including 136 "hard" events). IL-6, TNF-a and AAI independently predicted CHD events above Framingham Risk Score (FRS) with hazard ratios [HR] for the highest as compared with the lowest quartile for IL-6 of 1.95 (95%CI: 1.38-2.75, p for trend<0.001), TNF-a of 1.45 (95%CI: 1.04-2.02, p for trend 0.03), of 1.66 (95%CI: 1.19-2.31) for AAI £0.9, as compared to AAI 1.01-1.30. CRP and aPWV were not independently associated with CHD events. Results were similar for "hard" CHD events. Addition of IL-6 and AAI to traditional cardiovascular risk factors yielded the greatest improvement in the prediction of CHD; C-index for "hard"/total CHD events increased from 0.62/0.62 for traditional risk factors to 0.64/0.64 for IL-6 addition, 0.65/0.63 for AAI, and 0.66/0.64 for IL-6 combined with AAI. Being in the highest quartile of IL-6 combined with an AAI £ 0.90 or >1.40 yielded an HR of 2.51 (1.50-4.19) and 4.55 (1.65-12.50) above FRS, respectively. With use of CHD risk categories, risk prediction at 5 years was more accurate in models that included IL-6, AAI or both, with 8.0, 8.3 and 12.1% correctly reclassified respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults, markers of atherosclerosis and of inflammation, particularly IL-6 and AAI, are independently associated with CHD. However, these markers only modestly improve cardiovascular risk prediction beyond traditional risk factors. Acknowledgments: This study was supported by Contracts NO1-AG-6-2101, NO1-AG-6- 2103, and NO1-AG-6-2106 of the National Institute on Aging. This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Institute on Aging.

The region makes the difference: disparities in management of acute myocardial infarction within Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: In Switzerland, health policies are decided at the local level, but little is known regarding their impact on the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this study, we assessed geographical differences within Switzerland regarding management of AMI. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Swiss hospital discharge database for period 2007-2008 (26,204 discharges from AMI). Seven Swiss regions (Leman, Mittelland, Northwest, Zurich, Central, Eastern, and Ticino) were analysed. RESULTS: Almost 53.7% of discharges from AMI were managed in a single hospital, ranging from 62.1% (Leman) to 31.6% (Ticino). The highest intensive care unit admission rate was in Leman (69.4%), the lowest (16.9%) in Ticino (Swiss average: 36.0%). Intracoronary revascularization rates were highest in Leman (51.1%) and lowest (30.9%) in Central Switzerland (average: 41.0%). Bare (non-drug-eluting) stent use was highest in Leman (61.4%) and lowest (16.9%) in Ticino (average: 42.1%), while drug-eluting stent use was highest (83.2%) in Ticino and lowest (38.6%) in Leman (average: 57.9%). Coronary artery bypass graft rates were highest (4.8%) in Ticino and lowest (0.5%) in Eastern Switzerland (average: 2.8%). Mechanical circulatory assistance rates were highest (4.2%) in Zurich and lowest (0.5%) in Ticino (average: 1.8%). The differences remained after adjusting for age, single or multiple hospital management, and gender. CONCLUSIONS: In Switzerland, significant geographical differences in management and revascularization procedures for AMI were found.

Une méthode simplifiée de mesure du volume atrial gauche sur les scanners de score calcique. Cardiovasculaire diagnostique et interventionnel. Séance Cardiovasculaire diagnostique et interventionnel. Séance ''L21 - Imagerie cardiaque non invasive''

Objectifs : Evaluer une méthode simple et rapide de mesure du volume atrial gauche. Matériels et méthodes : Cinquante patients ont été examinés avec un CT gaté pour mesure du score calcique. Trois méthodes ont été utilisées pour calculer le volume atrial gauche : 1) une méthode orthogonale avec mesure des surfaces/diamètres dans les plans axiaux/coronaux/sagittaux, 2) une méthode biplan inspirée de l'échocardiographie et 3) une méthode volumétrique. Les mesures ont été faites par le même observateur un mois plus tard et ont été répétées par trois autres observateurs. L'axe cardiaque a aussi été mesuré. La méthode Bland-Altmann et les corrélations de Spearman ont été utilisées. Résultats : La méthode volumétrique montre les variations intra/interobservateur les plus basses avec une variabilité de 6,1/7,4 ml, respectivement. Pour les mesures avec la méthode orthogonale (surfaces/diamètres), les variations intra/interobservateur sont 12,3/13,5 ml et 14,6/11,6 ml, respectivement. Pour la méthode biplan, les variations intra/interobservateur sont plus hautes : 23,9/19,8 ml. Comparée à la méthode de référence volumétrique, la méthode orthogonale avec les surfaces est mieux corrélée (R=0,959, p<0,001) que les autres méthodes. Il y a une faible influence de l'axe du coeur sur la méthode orthogonale avec les surfaces. Conclusion : La méthode volumétrique est le gold standard en terme de variabilité. Cependant elle est longue à metttre en oeuvre. La méthode orthogonale avec les surfaces est une alternative simple, sauf chez les patients obèses avec un coeur horizontalisé.

Trends in hospital discharges, management and in-hospital mortality from acute myocardial infarction in Switzerland between 1998 and 2008.

BACKGROUND: Since the late nineties, no study has assessed the trends in management and in-hospital outcome of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Switzerland. Our objective was to fill this gap. METHODS: Swiss hospital discharge database for years 1998 to 2008. AMI was defined as a primary discharge diagnosis code I21 according to the ICD10 classification. Invasive treatments and overall in-hospital mortality were assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 102,729 hospital discharges with a diagnosis of AMI were analyzed. The percentage of hospitalizations with a stay in an Intensive Care Unit decreased from 38.0% in 1998 to 36.2% in 2008 (p for trend < 0.001). Percutaneous revascularizations increased from 6.0% to 39.9% (p for trend < 0.001). Bare stents rose from 1.3% to 16.6% (p for trend < 0.001). Drug eluting stents appeared in 2004 and increased to 23.5% in 2008 (p for trend < 0.001). Coronary artery bypass graft increased from 1.0% to 3.0% (p for trend < 0.001). Circulatory assistance increased from 0.2% to 1.7% (p for trend < 0.001). Among patients managed in a single hospital (not transferred), seven-day and total in-hospital mortality decreased from 8.0% to 7.0% (p for trend < 0.01) and from 11.2% to 10.1%, respectively. These changes were no longer significant after multivariate adjustment for age, gender, region, revascularization procedures and transfer type. After multivariate adjustment, differing trends in revascularization procedures and in in-hospital mortality were found according to the geographical region considered. CONCLUSION: In Switzerland, a steep rise in hospital discharges and in revascularization procedures for AMI occurred between 1998 and 2008. The increase in revascularization procedures could explain the decrease in in-hospital mortality rates.

Dietary intake of children with inflammatory bowel disease and of healthy controls

Introduction: The assessment of dietary intake by examination is a tool that allows knowing the habits and detecting certain nutritional deficiencies. Thus, it is essential in chronic disease and especially in children, where deficiencies can have a negative impact on growth and pubertal development. Objectives: Compare the dietary intake between children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and healthy controls. Methods: Twenty-nine healthy controls (12 girls; mean age: 12.7 ± 1.9 years) and 21 IBD patients (11 girls; 14.3 ± 1.3 years) recruited from August 2011 to October 2012. Dietary intake was assessed by 24h recall. Results: No differences were found between IBD patients and healthy controls regarding dietary intake (table). Both IBD patients and healthy controls had excessive protein consumption. Furthermore, there are deficiencies for some nutriments (fibers, calcium and magnesium). Qualitative analysis revealed that both, IBD patients and healthy controls showed increased snacking and bad lipids distribution, especially for saturated lipids. Conclusion: Both children with IBD and health controls have a food imbalance and a low intake of minerals and vitamins. No differences between children with IBD and healthy controls were found.